Raise Your Hand

Better hearing is within your reach. It's always a good idea to safe guard your own hearing by protecting your ears and routinely having your hearing checked. But reaching out to your family or a member of your community and talking to them about hearing health is also important. Here are a few ways to raise your hand and your awareness about hearing loss:

• Get your hearing checked
• Learn more about hearing loss
• Talk to your community
• Visit a Raise Your Hand hearing loss community website and share your story
• Find out the warning signs of hearing loss
• Wear ear plugs at concerts or on the job
• Turn down the volume on your personal stereo
• Screen your newborn for signs of hearing loss
• Wear sound cancelling ear buds or head phones
• Talk to a loved one about hearing loss
• Screen your child for signs of hearing loss

Hearing loss doesn't just affect individuals, it has a serious impact on personal relationships. Social stigma, strained conversation, miscommunication and withdrawal can lead a person with hearing loss to suffer needlessly. It's never too late to get your hearing assessed, learn about your options and start improving. Some hearing loss is preventable, and most hearing loss is treatable-so raise your hand for better hearing.